Eilat was in shutdown due to protests against the planned closure of Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv on 1 July. Sde Dov is predominantly used for domestic flights to Eilat and, being close to the centre of town, unlike Ben Gurion airport, it facilitates quick business trips between the Red Sea resort and the commercial centre of Israel. Border crossings, the airport, schools, buses, municipality services and shops were shut down for the protest.